tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post693473274213882863..comments2023-09-25T02:24:22.087-07:00Comments on Anne R. Allen's Blog: Should Writers Kill Our Televisions?Anne R. Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-70578846979250467972011-02-21T06:14:27.249-08:002011-02-21T06:14:27.249-08:00I love catching up with your blog. You have such g...I love catching up with your blog. You have such great posts!!<br /><br />It's great that you're unplugging from your TV! I don't watch much, and can't imagine what I'd get done if I did!! Especially since I waste so much time already via my preferred method: COMPUTER time-wasting. As for TV, Most of the shows watched in my house are kids' shows and I tune it out... I do sit to watch with my husband, like social time lol.<br /><br />Nice post as always!! :)Diana Pazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04368186068872293410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-18619452089791220302011-02-18T15:17:37.388-08:002011-02-18T15:17:37.388-08:00Anne,
Paul Fahey called my attention to this blog ...Anne,<br />Paul Fahey called my attention to this blog about tv. Wish my husband would let me turn it off.<br /><br />Anyhow, a little late, but thanks so much for giving the info about the SLO NightWriter 500 word contest. Tolosa Press this week published Anna Unkovich's winning entry from last year's contest and Anne Schroder's call to arms for writers to submit. Only $10.<br /><br />Judythe Guarnea<br />SLO NW Member-at-Large.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-51999705305305984212011-02-18T08:16:16.308-08:002011-02-18T08:16:16.308-08:00I may be the oddball out, I find tv very inspiring...I may be the oddball out, I find tv very inspiring. Of course, I watch Discovery, History, Animal Planet. While I enjoy the reality shows of "Dirty Jobs", "Mythbusters, "Hoarders: Buried Alive," and "Animal Hoarding," I like to think studying ancient civilizations and how animals live in the wild is useful to my writing. Especially animal anomaly shows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-30058988725051684232011-02-18T07:53:40.855-08:002011-02-18T07:53:40.855-08:00Great post, Anne! We've never had cable. Can&#...Great post, Anne! We've never had cable. Can't imagine having all those channels. (Can't imagine paying all that money for it!) Netflix is one of the best inventions of recent years.Jean | Delightful Repasthttp://delightfulrepast.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-60168325900827510192011-02-12T10:06:14.255-08:002011-02-12T10:06:14.255-08:00I've never been one to sit hour after hour in ...I've never been one to sit hour after hour in front of the tv. It's great for the news, PBS, BBC and the like, but only seasons my life, isn't the main course. And I've found that I can zip thru the news faster on the computer and move on.Kittie Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07756250649095903317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-89285929079980594012011-02-12T09:33:07.849-08:002011-02-12T09:33:07.849-08:00Aside from (ahem) football and a couple movies a w...Aside from (ahem) football and a couple movies a week, I really don't watch much television. Too much junk on nowadays, and, really, most of it doesn't appeal to me. I've never purchased a cable package, which means I only get three stations - so that might have something to do with it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13832782604769370695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-56095733797502379072011-02-11T08:34:42.402-08:002011-02-11T08:34:42.402-08:00Great post! I had a professor in college who chall...Great post! I had a professor in college who challenged us to give up TV. I couldn't do it then, but when I got married we both gave it up. We have TVs, but we only watch movies. None of our stations work anyway except for the cartoon station. :)Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-38664907932279121262011-02-10T09:33:05.841-08:002011-02-10T09:33:05.841-08:00Rachna and Beth, I guess each generation has our e...Rachna and Beth, I guess each generation has our electronic addictions, don't we?<br /><br />Rachna, I don't know what you mom watches, but when shows start getting in the way of real life, it's worth talking about. Last year I wouldn't go out the night the new Mad Men episode came on even though I could have recorded it and watched it later. That's just sad.<br /><br />Katie, you have an excuse. You're watching TV in FRANCE. All those sexy ads! I'm sure they're good for your French. And right--those shows are research. Research is good. Unless it takes three hours a night, every night...Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-41581067727545637502011-02-10T04:03:03.476-08:002011-02-10T04:03:03.476-08:00I don't watch a ton of tv. Most of my time ki...I don't watch a ton of tv. Most of my time killing is spent on the internet but I do watch shows I like through online streaming. The way I see it, those teen shows I'm addicted to are for research!;)Creepy Query Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115161057496086972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-56003397508028995052011-02-09T12:58:50.147-08:002011-02-09T12:58:50.147-08:00Um, "I don't watch a lot of television.&q...Um, "I don't watch a lot of television."<br />But I will happily kill a few hours on the internet in lieu of writing.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01681732058311386672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-33190009570547571012011-02-09T08:26:17.207-08:002011-02-09T08:26:17.207-08:00Wonderful post, Anne. I don't watch much T.V, ...Wonderful post, Anne. I don't watch much T.V, but I spend a lot of time talking on the phone with my friends. If I reduce that time I will surely get more time to write.<br /><br />I love your resolution. I am sure you will be able to write more once you reduce your television time.<br /><br />Btw...I am going to make my mom read this post. She sees quite a bit of television serials.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-80609576523495490482011-02-08T16:45:28.134-08:002011-02-08T16:45:28.134-08:00Max Headroom! One of the great TV series of all ti...Max Headroom! One of the great TV series of all time. Canceled in the US after what--was it even a full season? Even though everybody I knew watched it. Way too subversive, I guess. And cyberpunk scared people. So it's in a DVD box set? Gotta check Netflix right now...Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-88285410102025514472011-02-08T13:54:26.899-08:002011-02-08T13:54:26.899-08:00Great post. I don't know if I could give up my...Great post. I don't know if I could give up my cable service. I do end up reading fairly often and the TV I do watch tends to be more "non-fiction" than anything plot heavy. And with the DVR I seldom watch live TV anymore. I get to skip the commercials and watch shows when they fit into my schedule.<br /><br />Between your post and some of the comments I'm reminded of the Max Headroom TV series. It makes some interesting commentary about how invasive TV networks could be. My husband just got the DVD box set and we've been watching a few episodes a week.Claire Govertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16186520237984343706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-61872957462888547932011-02-08T12:11:03.617-08:002011-02-08T12:11:03.617-08:00So many interesting points of view here. I think t...So many interesting points of view here. I think the conflicts come from different definitions of "TV." <br /><br />Some of you are talking about the machine itself--a tool for playing movies and selective programs. Nothing wrong with that. It's like a CD player or ipod or Kindle or whatever. <br /><br />But I've been talking in terms of broadcast TV--the addictive advertising-delivery device. That's what I need to get control over, because right now I feel it controls me.<br /><br />I agree with Sierra that it sometimes has its uses--like a nice glass of wine. But with me, it's been more like a 6 pack of generic beer I've been compulsively consuming ever night even though I kind of hate it. <br /><br />And yes, Sierra, I did get that you want to protect your child--exactly because of those addictive properties and the mind control of advertising.<br /><br />Most of you don't seem to be as controlled by TV as I've been. I wonder if there's a TV Anonymous 12 step program anywhere?Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-14454130271698235292011-02-08T09:05:40.671-08:002011-02-08T09:05:40.671-08:00We own a television, but is isn't hooked up to...We own a television, but is isn't hooked up to a cable provider. We download old shows that we enjoyed watching back-in-the-day, and even THAT puts us in front of the television far too much. I absolutely agree that taking this time to do something writing-related would make all the difference. Unfortunately, sometimes you really DO need to mentally shut down - particularly after a hard day - and sitting in front of a bright box that makes noise at you is all you have the wherewithal to do.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-8835110548711158922011-02-07T21:09:39.889-08:002011-02-07T21:09:39.889-08:00It's too bad that the prices are giving you co...It's too bad that the prices are giving you concern, I also enjoy spending more time writing than watching TV but I do have some shows that are definitely worth watching. I've found a lot of great sites online that are really productive for writers offering an analytical perspective and a creative place to share thoughts with others of the same mentality. I spend a lot of time writing amongst myself and working at Dish network, hey I'll admit I write at work to as a side distraction. There is always a lot to write about when I sit back and just observe interactions. As I said before, there is definitely a strong connection between some of the movies I watch on channels like EPIX which are more abstract and my screen plays. Come to think of it there are a lot of channels I am able to get good inspiration from, of late I've been getting inspired from that absurdly wild show Taboo on Nat Geo. The programming package I have with Dish is pretty extensive but the price is so much lower than other companies including Direct. It's possible to have both types of entertainment without breaking the bank. Not to mention, there is a big 30th anniversary hooray going on right now and so there is a lot of great specials and what not. Anyway from one writer to another, there are other options that might be more suitable and not so much of a burden on the finances of a "starving writer".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16482950532268328191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-17533831451688030492011-02-07T20:48:17.295-08:002011-02-07T20:48:17.295-08:00Anne-- quick note-- as a mom I don't have a di...Anne-- quick note-- as a mom I don't have a different relationship with TV except to dislike it more. I don't like what TV does to little kids, from the quick movement to the marketing, so if anything, having children has actually kept the TV off more.Sierra Godfreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00552916038080341870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-23776040594026419112011-02-07T19:36:17.907-08:002011-02-07T19:36:17.907-08:00Samuel, I think you've articulated the differe...Samuel, I think you've articulated the difference: "watching TV" in the sense of just sitting in front of the box surfing around seems different from "choosing to watch a DVD tonight."<br /><br />Carson, You're right about the longer commercial time. "1 hour dramas" are now 44 minutes long. The rest is LOUD commercials, banging away at our subconscious and free will.<br /><br />Most important, I think you've hit on why I've come to hate TV so much--it's the medium that has allowed foreign billionaires to buy their own propaganda network--and subsequently control one of our political parties with sadistic fearmongering that makes Americans fear their own democracy.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-43282882478971257102011-02-07T18:56:43.639-08:002011-02-07T18:56:43.639-08:00This is a very interesting post; thank you -- so w...This is a very interesting post; thank you -- so well-thought-out.<br />I stopped watching current TV.<br />Same reasons you give, +<br />1. now I listen to my many music CDs on my stereo (first thing, when home from work);<br />2. TV is different now because so much of a show's running-time is taken up with commercials -- it's just too much; having it on after work is like being pummeled -- I realized after I stopped. (FCC must have loosened rules on commercial time, around same time when they did away with the Fairness Doctrine, killing Actual News as a Real Thing...<br />3. (DVD's -- movies, + some well-written TV shows which I enjoy -- just without the commercials - !<br />4. another reason I set aside TV (boycott??) is the ridiculous excuse for "news" that they give us on cable channels, & maybe it's on the networks, too...I'm not a student of it all -- the idea that a teenager's "sexy" video is a "news story" is far from reality. I don't know what it is, but it ain't journalism.<br />5. this goes along with the criticism of too many commercial breaks & too many commercials IN every break, + some will be previews of shows they want to push, and some have horrifying and disgusting aspects -- they get injected into our awareness even if we choose not to watch the show itself, just from the previews -- I'll no longer make myself available for that<br />THANK YOU!!Carson Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11426505356407204408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-69844232911711449562011-02-07T17:11:45.320-08:002011-02-07T17:11:45.320-08:00Churadogs and Christine make good points--watching...Churadogs and Christine make good points--watching on Hulu probably isn't that different from watching on TV, except right now there are fewer ads (A major plus for me.)And it's FREE. But as Chura says, that will probably change.<br /><br />But Yvonne's story makes me happy. Thanks, Yvonne! I want to spend more time DOING stuff than WATCHING stuff, and I guess that's what my rant is really about.<br /><br />Christi and Sierra--as moms, you probably have a different relationship with TV.<br /><br />Sherrie--I didn't know you sang in a band. That's kind of awesome. And for a singer or dancer, Glee is amazing. They've got to find some new plots, though.<br /><br />Anon--Writing screenplays is a whole different medium. I've never tried it. I've written for the stage, which was great fun, because I could get all that input from actors.<br /><br />J.L. I think writers who watch "reality TV" are betraying their tribe. Stars but no writers-- ick. But I can be a Law and Order addict. Something about that well-ordered universe sooths me. Like listening to Mozart.Anne R. Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420000168356370825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-62028395919098339902011-02-07T16:55:14.126-08:002011-02-07T16:55:14.126-08:00I'm really starting to enjoy Television Series...I'm really starting to enjoy Television Series, getting into classics like The Sopranos and others as well as some newer ones. But I don't "watch TV" - I follow my faves on Netflix or DVD. I've never really enjoyed sitting down and actively flipping through channels, watching whatever happens to catch my attention. I'll sit in a room with a TV on to be around other people, but I always have something else in my hands.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-90135057610332880912011-02-07T10:31:48.526-08:002011-02-07T10:31:48.526-08:00Television. I still watch it. I watch shows that I...Television. I still watch it. I watch shows that I appreciate because of good writing. As far as I’m concerned, good writing is good writing. I’ve thrown many a book across the room when the writing disappointed me. I’ve never gone back to TV shows when the writing disappointed me. I have no interest in or respect for the whole “reality TV” craze. It has taken away opportunity for good writing. Books, TV, movies, even newspapers all give opportunity for creative expression. I respect the good in all of them and ignore the bad. As far as TV being only for the elderly; watching shows on TV or on a computer seems like the same thing to me. Just a different box. One stays put in you living room, the other you can take with you. And, I think that is the appeal to younger folks. How much time did you spend sitting in front of TV when you were in your 20”s? At that age I had places to go late into the night! Now? I kinda like being home at the end of the day with my husband, dog and kitties, no matter what I do with the time.Christine Ahernhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14968409907141389324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-42806947811976809062011-02-07T08:10:03.326-08:002011-02-07T08:10:03.326-08:00I've never understood what people get out of w...I've never understood what people get out of watching reality television shows. I will admit though that while I'm at my desk, the television is on and I waste a lot of time watching snatches of Law & Order (all the versions) and NCIS, most of which I've seen a few times before. Television is the last place I'd look to for inspiration. It's a mystery why I spend so much time with it running. Habit, I guess?J.L. Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05666634455836834179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-31868700122867905462011-02-07T06:38:31.372-08:002011-02-07T06:38:31.372-08:00If you self-righteously decry the horrible evils o...If you self-righteously decry the horrible evils of TV but then tap into HULU or watch TV series via Nexflix, or watch via laptops, are you like the Amish farmer who put his TV set on a fence post outside his kitchen window so he could watch his favorite programs but wouldn't be violating his religious customs by having the set in the house?<br /><br />Well, hell, it is tough being a purist about anything. And, no need to really. The most interesting thing to me is how technology has broken up TV's power -- thank you Tivo. As Anne mentioned, years ago you had to have your butt in the chair to see a show in real time. Then VCRs cut the cord and now it's all pick 'n choose. What's been lost is that pre-Tivo communal sense of nationally shared images and ideas -- everybody watching the same Uncle Miltie show in real time. Nowadays, mention some TV show and you'll likely get a blank stare unless you happen to be speaking to someone with the same taste in shows as you. More fragmenting.<br /><br />But it will be interesting to see how the networks, cable industry, etc. will figure out new ways to stick it to the viewers again. Isn't HULU only "free" because nobody can figure out how to get you to pay for it? That may be tricky in "free download" Napster America.(Only old people pay for their TV signals . . .) Which should make people who create/write these shows/programs (books/movies) nervous?Churadogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17701649330085709021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8385052143211121638.post-60107600174608076952011-02-07T06:18:45.117-08:002011-02-07T06:18:45.117-08:00Oddly, it was partly TV that got me writing. An u...Oddly, it was partly TV that got me writing. An unabashed movie freak, I spend so much time on my bumm watching the thing, I thought... I might as well put that 'expertise' to some use! I started writing screenplays - great fun and very satisfying :-) Sherry HeberAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com